Hand-tool.



V. J. WAHLSTROM.

HAND TOOL.

APPLIGATION-IILED FEB. 18, 1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

jnzyaHZ w i' VERNER J. wnnnsrnom, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR or ONE-H LF r0 nnammnn'r r. BUBCI-IARDI, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HAND-TOOL.

Specification'of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 18, 1910. Serial Ho. 544,641.

State of New York, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in' Hand- Tools, fully described and represented in the following specification and't'he accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

- This invention relates to improvements in hand tools.

The'objects of the invention are to produce a cheap, simple and effective construction of hand tool comprising a handle and tool in which the tool may, if desired, be used with a hammer without damaging the tool, and in which the tool may be readily inserted into and removed from the handle and securely held in position when in the handle.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

'Figure 1 illustrates, in side elevation, and

' partly in section, a tool constructedin-accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the handle of the, tool and part of the tool itself, the tool being turned at'right angles to the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the tool.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the handle of the tool, a screw driver being shown. This handle may be of anysuitable material, such as wood or metal. For many uses, however, the handle of the tool may be advantageously formed of cast aluminum. which is light,,.attractive inappearance, and sufliciently strong for the'purposes for which the tool is 'to be used. The tool handle will be provided" with a' tool socket 2 extending longitudinally through the handle. The configuration of this socket will be other than round,.and in the -best constructions" einbodyin the invention this socket will be substantia ly square and the tool, of course,

will conform to the configuration .of the socket. In using a screw driver, or similar tool, it is frequently desirable to place a wrench on the shank of the tool while the I tool is held in engagement with the object to which the tool is applied for the purpose of turning it. If the tool be made'substantially square in cross-section, a wrench may beapplied to it and the tool given a quarter or half turn, after which the wrench may be removed and reengaged without readjusting its jaws. This is particularly advantageous Patented June is, 1911.

The constructlon, as lllustrated, comprises a ball 4, the

inner end of-the socket 3 being provided with shoulders 5 to prevent the ball from passing into the tool socket. The ball is held against the shoulders by a suitable spring, as 6, the socket being closed by a plug 7, which may be conveniently threaded into the socket. The plug is contained en'- tirely within the socket when in operative position, so as to avoid projecting from the surface of the handle and thus hurting the hand of the user.

When, as pointed'out, the shank of the tool is made square or substantially square in cross-section, it presents particular-advantages in connection with a tool retainer similarto the one above described. Itmay happen that the tool is' to be used in positions where only a quarter tlirn of it can be obtained due to the factfthat the handle is interfered with by parts of the mechanism with which the tool "is bein used. Where the body of the tool is ma e substantially square, after a,quarter turn the handle can he slipped ofi and givena quarter turn and reapplied to the tool and the tool then given another quarter turn, and so on, until the purpose for which the tool is being used is accomplished. i

' The tool shown; is' a screw-driver, the

shank 8 of which is contain-ed in the tool socket and the upper end 9 of this shank projects slightly beyond the top of the han le This enables the tool to be struck with a hammer-without danger of breaking or marring the handle. This projecting end is provided with an impact surface 10 (best shown in Fig. 3) which is less in area than thearea of the body of the shank. When constructed in this manner, if the end of the shank is battered by a hammer or other driving tool, the bur thus formed will not prevent the tool from being readily removed from the handle a When the tool is removable from the handle, the shank will be provided with a suit- -may be conveniently formed b cutting a groove around the shank, as indicated at 11.

When a retainer which is spring held is employed with a shank which projects entirelythrough the handle a stop should be provided for preventing the tool from being slipped through the handle. While this stop may be constructed in various ways, as shown, it consists of a pin, as 12, which is driven through the shank of thetool at the proper point. 1

Changes and variations may be made in the construction by which the invention is carried into effect. The invention is not, therefore, to be confined to the particular construction hereinbefore shown and described. I I

What is claimed is I 1. A hand tool comprising a handle longitudinally bored throughout its length, a too having a shank exten 'ng through the bore, one end of'said shank protruding slightly beyond the handle and being beveled 01f to longitudinally throughout its length, a tool, 40

having a shank substantially 'square in cross section extending through the bore and below the handle, one end of said shank ,pro-

truding slightly beyond the handle and be ing beveled off to form an impact surface which is slightly smaller in area than the body of the shank, said shank being removable through the lower end of the handle, and means for detachably securing the shank in the handle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VERNER' J. WAHLSTROM.

Witnesses: 1

A. WHITE,

J. J KEARNs. 

